Tag Archives: michelle

President Obama and the First Lady head to Asheville, North Carolina this weekend for a week-end getaway.

The historic city of Asheville, on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains features a funky and eclectic downtown, more than 30 art galleries, a large culinary scene and one of the most spectacular estates ever constructed in this country.

Today the White House will host a meeting on childhood obesity, bringing together experts and industry leaders from across the country to discuss ways to combat the growing health epidemic. First Lady Michelle Obama, Administration officials and Childhood Obesity Task Force members will discuss healthier food in schools, access to healthy, affordable food, empowering parents and more.

We want to hear from you too. Today the White House is collaborating with GOOD to ask:

What are your ideas to end childhood obesity within a generation?

Tell us your ideas on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. We look forward to hearing from you will feature some of the most interesting responses on the blog.

Please note that the username, personal identifier or icon affiliated with responses may be posted.

Supporting military families is a top Obama Administration priority. April is Month of the Military Child and gives the nation the opportunity to recognize the character, strength and sacrifices of America’s military children as well as the role they play in the armed forces community. Today, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18-years-old with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 children and youth with one or both parents deployed multiple times. Learn more about the Month of the Military Child here.

Watch the video of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden talk about the important role military children play in the armed forces community:

The eagerly anticipated inspirational memoir from Michelle Obama’s brother, celebrating the extraordinary family members and mentors who have shaped his life

LAT~Reporting from Washington – The news might have set off alarms in some past administrations: The president’s brother-in-law has written a book.

But you won’t find dirty laundry in a memoir from First Lady Michelle Obama’s brother, Oregon State basketball coach Craig Robinson.

The book, “A Game of Character,” which has a foreword by their mother, Marian Robinson, is due out April 20.

Craig Robinson writes that he and his parents didn’t think Barack Obama stood much of a chance with his sister when they met him.

He and his parents were out on their porch on a hot summer night in Chicago when the couple stopped by to say hello on their way to a movie.

“Well, he’s tall,” Marian Robinson said while Obama was out of earshot.

“Not a bad-looking guy, either,” said her husband, Fraser.

But even though the suitor struck the Robinsons as a self-possessed man with a nice smile and firm handshake, they figured he wasn’t a keeper. “Too bad,” Marian said. “Yep,” Fraser answered. “She’ll eat him alive.”

Miche, as he calls her, was a disciplined, scholarly girl who saved money fastidiously, who learned to box at their father’s behest and who once conspired with him, upset that their parents smoked, to destroy every last cigarette in the house.

Robinson writes mostly about basketball, even when describing how he introduced his sister before her prime-time address at the Democratic National Convention.

“Michelle was being asked to sink a three-pointer at the buzzer in a do-or-die game at the start of the championship,” he writes. “Everything to come, victory or disappointment, would hinge on this one shot. And all I could do to help was simply pass her the ball. And believe.”

More @

In A Game of Character, Robinson takes readers behind the scenes to meet his most important influences in his understanding of the winning traits that are part of his playbook for success. Central to his story are his parents, Marian and Fraser, two indefatigable individuals who showed their children how to believe in themselves and live their lives with conviction through love, discipline and respect. With insights into this exemplary family, we relive memories of how Marian sacrificed a career to be a full-time mom, how Fraser got up and went to work every day while confronting the challenges of multiple sclerosis, how Craig and Michelle strengthened their bond as they journeyed out of the Southside to Princeton University and eventually, the national stage.

Heartwarming, inspiring, and even transformational, A Game of Character comes just at the right time in an era of change, reminding readers of our opportunity to work together and embrace the character of our nation, to make a difference in the lives of others and to pave the way for the next generation.

On Wednesday, April 7, 2010 C-SPAN hosted a live program with Michelle Obama about the issue of childhood obesity, a topic she has spoken out about during her time as First Lady. C-SPAN StudentCam’s First Prize Middle School winner, Matthew Shimura, will join the First Lady at the White House for the program. His winning StudentCam documentary focused on the issue of childhood obesity in America.

This year C-SPAN challenged middle and high school students from across the United States to address what they believe are the major issues of the day with a video project. There were 1,000 student documentarians who submitted videos and 128 of them focused on a health issue.

During the program Mrs. Obama took calls from other students who submitted StudentCam videos about obesity. The event will take place in front of an audience of students.

Political Punch~First Lady Michelle Obama told students today that the most important part of her “Let’s Move!” initiative to combat childhood obesity is advocating for healthy living and promoting an active lifestyle for the nation’s youth and not focusing on appearances.

“To see the statistics, seeing that one in three kids in this country is overweight or obese and that we’re on track for the first time ever for our kids to live shorter lives than we do. You know, that in and of itself was terrifying enough for me,” the first lady said at a live C-SPAN town hall meeting today with school students. “I wouldn’t want that fate for my girls and I don’t want it for any of you or any other kids in this country.”

About Matthew Shimura

Contest winner Matthew Shimura

Matthew won first prize in the middle school category in C-SPAN’s 2010 StudentCam competition for his entry titled, “Childhood Obesity”.

Matthew attends the Punahou School in Honolulu, HI, a K-12 school. It is the largest coeducational, independent school on a single campus in the United States.

President Barack Obama also attended Punahou School from 1971 to 1979 during his childhood years in Hawaii. Check-out Matthew’s winning video below, he did a great job!

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First Lady Michelle Obama and Susan Swain of C-Span, right, listen to a question at the Let's Move Town Hall event in the State Dining Room of the White House. April 7, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

The First family are holding this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, April 5, 2010 with the theme of “Ready, Set, Go!” promoting health and wellness. Over 30,000 people from all 50 states and DC will visit the South Lawn of the White House this year. The event features live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling. All of the activities will encourage children to lead healthy and active lives and follow the First Lady’s ‘Let’s Move!’ initiative, a national campaign to combat childhood obesity.

The 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll souvenir eggs are available for purchase online at the National Park Foundation website. Each wooden egg is expertly crafted, painted, and includes the signatures of the President and First Lady.

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The White House press office has announced the following performers and leaders in their field to participate in this year’s festivities:

Sara Bareilles, Justin Bieber, the cast of the television show Glee, Yo Gabba Gabba, Sesame Street, and Little Beat, The #1 Chinchilla and DJ Willy Wow! will perform on the Rock ‘n’ Egg Roll Stage

Assistant Pastry Chef Susie Morrison puts the finishing touches on some marzipan chicks for an Easter Egg Village as the White prepares for the annual Easter Egg Roll, April 2, 2010. The White House Easter Egg Roll is a tradition that has spanned more than 130 years. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters, Sasha and Malia, attend Easter Sunday service at Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., April 4, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

All of the headliner music acts and Storytime Stage readers will have their performances broadcast live on www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll. A full schedule will be posted on the morning of April 5th so citizens from across the country can participate in the event.

A more ambitious and comprehensive approach to sustainability was taken to minimize the environmental impact of the 2010 Easter Egg Roll. Some of the highlights include: the “greenest” souvenir egg in Egg Roll history, crafted from Forest Stewardship Council certified U.S. hardwood; goody bags made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic; the use of organically grown fruits and vegetables at the Play with Your Food station; and increased recycling and composting capabilities on the day of the event.

The White House Easter Egg Roll is made possible by the hard work of close to 1,200 volunteers

The Mount Ennon Baptist Church Children’s Chorus from Clinton, Md., performs at the Easter Prayer Breakfast in the East Room of the White House, April 6, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Barack Obama (C) reads Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Suess, for a group of children and his family, first lady Michelle Obama (R) and daughters Malia Obama (L), 11, and Sasha Obama, 8, during the Easter Egg Roll at the White House April 5, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

The White House Press office released the official guidance for the week of April 5, 2010:

Monday, April 5
The First Family will attend the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. In the afternoon the President will throw out the first pitch at opening day at Nationals Park.

Tuesday, April 6
The President attends meetings at the White House.

Wednesday, April 7
During the day, the President attends meetings at the White House.

On Wednesday evening, the President will travel to Prague, arriving Thursday morning local time.

Thursday, April 8
In Prague, the President will attend a bilateral meeting with President Medvedev of Russia, followed by a signing ceremony and a press conference with Presidents Obama and Medvedev.

The President will then attend a ceremonial lunch with the three countries – the United States, Russia and the Czech Republic. On Thursday night, the President will attend a dinner with 11 heads of state and government from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Friday, April 9
On Friday morning, the President will attend a bilateral meeting with the President and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, before returning to Washington and landing that night.